Biochemical properties of a novel 28KDA protein tyrosine kinase partially purified from the particulate fraction of rat spleen

In this report we present some of the biochemical properties of the enzyme, here called pp28(PTK), isolated from particulate fraction of rat spleen (1). The kinase is very susceptible for polyions as regulators of the enzymatic activity. The polyanions like dextran sulfate or heparin inhibited, and polycations such as spermidin, protamin, poly-L-lysine and some random polypeptides containing tyrosine besides a basic amino acid, stimulated the enzyme markedly. The kinase showed high sensitivity towards class IA salts. In the casein phosphorylation reaction the apparent Km value for ATP was 4 microM. An unusual property is associated with autophosphorylation which leads to a reduced activity towards external substrates. Some kinase inhibitors described in the literature were tested for their potency.